Another one bites the dust
Linspire makes a deal with MS, now they are gone.
Has any software company survived an interoperability agreement with Microsoft?
Xandros buys Linspire, says bruised ex-CEO
Desktop Linux maker Xandros is understood to be in the process of buying Linux distributor Linspire. According to several reports, and former Linspire CEO Kevin Carmony, Xandros has bought the privately-held company, which is based in San Diego, California, after stockholders agreed to sell all of Linspire’s assets. The deal …
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Tuesday 1st July 2008 17:52 GMT Lewis Mettler
Xandros has a deal with Microsoft too
Xandros also signed a deal with Microsoft. Although I believe you have to pay extra to be covered by that deal.
The Xandros File Manager is the best around and incorporates CD writing and networking all within the application. But, I no longer support the company because of the Microsoft arrangement.
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Tuesday 1st July 2008 19:20 GMT rasputinsDog
No bog deal . . .
I have used both Xandros and Freespire and neither one was anything to write home about. If any Linux distro would be likely to sell out to M$, it would be Xandros. I expect within the next few years to see them sell out to create a M$ branded distro of Linux. And if anyone thought cnr was a good idea, well kiss it goodbye now, at least the free version, anyway.
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Tuesday 1st July 2008 19:20 GMT Richard Lloyd
Will Ubuntu Netbook Remix steamroller Xandros?
It seems to me that the only significant revenue stream that a non-server commercial Linux distro can create is if they get their distro pre-installed on a big-selling desktop/laptop/sub-laptop. Ubuntu is already pre-installed on a few Dell desktops/laptops (though horribly hidden on their site and often pricier than Windows versions because they don't get any special offers) and none of the other big OEMs seem to be prominently selling Linux pre-installed on the laptops/desktops.
This leaves the rapidly growing sub-laptop market and Xandros have done a clever deal with Asus to get it on the EEE PC. But where are the other sub-laptop deals for Xandros? Seems like Acer is going with the obscure Linpus Linux and I suspect Dell are hanging back for the Ubuntu Netbook Remix - see http://www.canonical.com/netbooks/ - before releasing their model. If Ubuntu Netbook Remix takes off, it might sway other OEMs and if Asus decided to jump ship, would that effectively kill Xandros?
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Wednesday 2nd July 2008 08:42 GMT Eric Van Haesendonck
the only ggod thing coming from linspire is CNR
I just hopes that CNR survives the deal and stays open to other distros like Ubuntu and Mint. This was the best thing to come out of Linspire, as their distros were mostly outdated ubuntu derivatives recently.
In my opignon the CNR is quite an essential piece of software because it allows you to update you software like skype, opera, gimp etc... without having to upgrade your whole distro to a new release (I got into trouble recently trying to upgrade an Ubuntu PC to 8.04 and losing my wireless connection). Often the official repositories don't backport a lot of software updates to older releases, leaving CNR as the only game in town.
Also on the good side we may see a CNR client on the eee PC. As I understand the Xandros distribution on the eee doesn't really have repositories with a lot of software, and adding some unofficial repositories means messing around with sources list and pining, something the typical user won't do. So this deal may improve the Linux experience for a lot of new users in the future.
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Wednesday 2nd July 2008 08:42 GMT Bruce Sinton
Xandros
Hello Ken BW2,
I tried Xandros a couple of years ago . Actually paid for it . (Forgive me I knew not was I was doing).
I gave up on it , found it would not install any updates , and they only gave 30 days support.
I now have Ubuntu 8.04 , works quite well,except when I try some things beyond my level of understanding.
Still it's easy to do another install. And no need to worry about that MS thing called reactivation .
Long live that man that lives on the Isle of Wight.
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Wednesday 2nd July 2008 09:49 GMT Nigel Kneale
@AC
"If you've used Xandros on the EEE, you'll notice that it basically IS Windows now."
I have, and it isn't.
The Full Desktop looks like any other KDE desktop (because it *is* KDE), and the Simple Desktop looks unlike anything I've used before.
Xandros have a good little product there: Linux for the masses.
Funny how the mere mention of Microsoft stops a lot of people around here being rational.
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Wednesday 2nd July 2008 10:10 GMT Anonymous Coward
@Richard Lloyd
How are the Ubuntu offerings from Dell 'horribly hidden'? On the Dell UK site type 'linux' into the search box and the Ubuntu product page is top of the list. Or go into the 'Home and Office' section and there is an entry for 'Open-source PCs (Linux)' in both the Desktops and Laptops dropdown menus.
As to price: I've just speced out equivalent systems and the Ubuntu XPS 1330 laptop came out £85 cheaper than the Vista version.
Stop spreading uninformed FUD.
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Biting the hand that feeds IT
